Wisconsin basketball player Nigel Hayes held a sign on College Gameday today stating: Broke College Athlete, Anything will Help. And asked for donations.

 

Nigel Hayes of Wisconsin Badgers carries sign asking for money at College GameDay

 

Wisconsin basketball player Nigel Hayes made a bold statement during ESPN's College GameDay visit to Madison on Saturday, carrying a sign asking people to send money to an online account.

 

Hayes told ESPN that he wanted to "create conversation" about compensation for college athletes. All funds will be given to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, according to Hayes.

 

The Badgers star said he's using a friend's account on Venmo -- the company describes itself as a "digital wallet that lets you make and share payments" with others -- and never intended to make money for himself.

 

"Obviously, me accepting money is illegal," he told ESPN. "Therefore, I used my friend's account. And as I said, all proceeds will be going to the Boys & Girls Club. The sign was strictly to generate conversation."

 

Hayes told ESPN's Darren Rovell his action was simply the electronic equivalent of what he did earlier in the season at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium, where he campaigned for donations for charity.

 

Hayes has previously spoken out about the NCAA and Big Ten's financial treatment of student-athletes. On Friday, he sent a series of tweets comparing the revenue taken in for college athletics to the value of his scholarship.

 

He followed up Saturday by saying student-athletes deserve more than their current stipends, and that each institution -- not the NCAA -- should have the power to pay its athletes appropriate compensation.

 

"Allowing the schools to decide payment would be the best option," he said.

 

Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett posted support for Hayes' message on Instagram, saying it "takes courage to do something like this."

 

"This conversation will continue to be had. It's my hopes that one day ALL college kids decide to sit out of sport and school until someone negotiates new circumstances for them," Clarett wrote, "When you disrupt the money you get people's attention."

 

Hayes, a senior, was named the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year after averaging 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season. Wisconsin opens its regular season Nov. 11 against Central Arkansas.

Love. This. I'm now a huge fan of Nigel Hayes.

I have no problem with paying them, but the vast majority of schools (Non-Power Conferences) would struggle to pay all of the scholarship athletes at their schools.

 

You can't pay football or basketball without paying WBB, soccer, softball, gymnastics, swim, volleyball, tennis, field hockey, lacrosse and any other sport that has a women's team due to Title IX. Most schools could not afford that out of their athletic budgets.

I think they should get paid for their likeness.

I like the idea Jay Bilas had where you allow college athletes to have their own endorsement deals, and then you set a cap on how much they can make.

I think they should get paid for their likeness.

 

I think they should get a small but reasonable stipend as part of their scholarship. Walk Ons would get the same as well.

I like the idea Jay Bilas had where you allow college athletes to have their own endorsement deals, and then you set a cap on how much they can make.

 

Thats because Bilas likes corruption, thats what that would lead too.

Thats because Bilas likes corruption, thats what that would lead too.

 

There's plenty of corruption already. Might as well legalize it.

Free ride is plenty.

Free ride is plenty.

 

I don't believe that Universities or other entities should be making money by selling "Brow" T-Shirts and Anthony Davis not get a cut. (Insert the Twins T-Shirts or anything else like that).

Just like every most situations like this it comes down to leverage and choice. If you don't have the leverage you then have to make a choice.

 

The NCAA has the leverage. It's not going to change any time soon.

 

Fans who support the idea that players should get paid are STILL going to watch games and/or go to games. Barring legal decisions, this is simply an academic exercise.

I should also kudos to Nigel. Kid certainly knows how to get his name in the news.

I don't believe that Universities or other entities should be making money by selling "Brow" T-Shirts and Anthony Davis not get a cut. (Insert the Twins T-Shirts or anything else like that).

 

I agree with you. I'd like it where no one can profit from an 18 year old college player. Used to be the universities could not use players names or likenesses. Are colleges the ones doing this? I've been out of licensing for over 20 years.

I agree with you. I'd like it where no one can profit from an 18 year old college player. Used to be the universities could not use players names or likenesses. Are colleges the ones doing this? I've been out of licensing for over 20 years.

 

No I don't think so, the "Brow" or "Twins" shirts were sold by companies like Wildcat Wearhouse or something like that. As long as UK or Kentucky isn't on the shirt it's not controlled by the school and the school/NCAA doesn't get a cut.

 

There were some Nike "Brow" shirts that came out after he declared for the draft, but he got a cut of those.

Paying players is what will usher in the Super Conferences faster than anything else. Only big time schools will be able to pay ALL of their athletes including all of those athletes in non-revenue generating sports.